The hourglass dangled in front of him, as if mocking him once again. He could feel blood pounding in his ears, his heart thrummed wildly in his chest. He loosened his clenched fist in defeat as terror filled his being. The cracks on the smooth, glassy surface slowly mended by itself.

 

Jong kook slowly raised his gaze to catch Ji hyo’s, his eyes wide and unsure. “Ji hyo, why do you have this?” The unmistakable tremble in his voice betrayed his fears. Desperation laced his every word. He sought those brown orbs, begging for answers. His face softened and he almost smiled after a while. Something in her eyes comforted him and he knew that even if everything were just an illusion, there would be things that would always be real. At least what they had found with each other will always be there, if not, he believed that they’d be able to find it again. Even if it means that, it would be in another time.

 

A tear fell, running down her cheeks. Ji hyo nodded, as if she reading his thoughts. She looked proud, almost happy but the image of her like that also broke his heart. Until the end, she had always stayed strong and true. Even at that time, she was selfless in loving him despite everything else.

 

Separation is imminent. They have no more choice for now but face it. She shook the chains and he didn’t hesitate anymore. He reached out to her. A spark ignited as they made contact. Her touch was warm, too painfully familiar. He gripped her hand tight, staring at her face, afraid that each minute would be the last.

 

A faint light glowed from the hourglass. One moment he was holding her and the other minute he was just floating in a sea of memories. A bright flash of light blinded him then it was very cold, then warm. Jong kook gave in and closed his eyes.

 

----------Flashback before the 'other' memories came----------

 

A curious thing in the dresser drawer caught Ji hyo’s attention. Lifting a finger, she touched the ancient looking hourglass but immediately withdrew. The grains of sand inside seemed to swirl and it was warm, unusually too warm. Finding courage, she gently took it and weighed it in her palm. Almost dropping it when she noticed that the sand inside remained immobile.

 

Wind blew inside the room. A sudden headache hit her, opening something deep within. Jong kook, a time god, there was another boy who started it all. She weakly stepped back until the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed. She collapsed on the soft mattress, still staring at the hourglass. Something was lulling her to sleep and she tried to fight it to no avail. Slowly, Ji hyo succumbed into darkness.

 

There was a feeling of lightheadedness, a sharp pain somewhere that also vanished in a flash. Her lids felt heavy yet she struggled to open her eyes. She found herself in nothingness. The only thing that registered in her mind was a boy watching her with a blank expression.

 

“Who are you?” She let her gaze roam but there was only vast emptiness. It was not dark nor was it bright. She was sitting or standing, she wasn’t really too sure. Ji hyo can only see the lad and everything else was like a hazy dream.

 

“I want answers myself too Ji hyo-ssi. It seems like you are part of the equation, lady.” The time god replied, eyeing her with fascination as if he was waiting for something. Jade frowned when she stayed silent. “Why don’t you calm down first and look into your mind. Tell me who I am Ji hyo-ssi.”

“I’m confused – wait... you!” Pointing a finger at the person in front of her, she let out a snort of disbelief. “What, just why… these, the things inside my head. Why?” She closed her eyes, shutting them tight as she struggled to make sense of the revelations. She doesn’t know how long she stayed like that but it seemed, in that place, there was no more sense of time.

 

She let out a chuckle and a groan. “You’re Jade. You are the useless time god.”

“Ah, I’m flattered, so nice to officially meet you. So, you really know everything huh...” Jade murmured, looking away and staring at an invisible floor. 

 

“What’s going to happen now… Jong kook, so that’s why he was so different… but what’s going to happen to him? And why am I here? The equation… please,” she swallowed hard, and inhaled deeply. She clasped her hands and laughed weakly after discovering that they were numb. “Please, please tell me.” Jade flinched, but he only shrugged. He couldn’t help but want to do something for them. He was feeling, sympathizing with the mortals, which was not supposed to happen to him. He can’t break the rules again. Not anymore.

 

“Surely we are not meant to just stay here and stare at each other. Why do I have the hourglass?” Jade stood up and walked towards her. He crouched in front of her and took the metal chain. He seemed to be in deep thoughts and his expression made Ji hyo nervous. “What do you see Jade?”

“It is almost time for the answers. I should have known at the start that you are the key. You... you have to help him end this.”

“End what?”

 

Jade didn’t answer but only continued to stare at the hourglass. He toyed with it, shaking, turning it, and then he stepped on it, which left Ji hyo open mouthed. The thing did not break nor did the sand inside unfroze. “Let me ask you first Ji hyo-ssi. Do you love him?” She nodded without hesitation. “Even if he lied to you? Even if he wasn’t the person you thought he was?”

“Bastard, you guys never gave him a choice! And he’s Jong kook, he has always been.”

 

Jade grinned. “Oh, feisty aren’t we? Didn’t you felt hurt? Or cheated --”

“Do you want me to skin you alive? Of course, I feel so cheated, I feel so bad. I feel so confused. I feel like I -- him who doesn’t even know who I am, he…he…”

“He did everything to finish his mission.”

 

At that moment, she only wanted to punch the god before her. Gritting her teeth and holding in her temper, she says, “you know what? I only fell in love for him more.

“I just realized it was me who didn’t know him well enough. I didn’t even realize that he was -- not him… Jong kook has always loved me… his present, the future one. They all did. I failed to see or feel it… but I know now that it is real. Even if we had been through many things… even if there were lies and this equation… but --

“This was true.” she finished, placing a hand over her heart.

 

Jade smiled, he almost has an idea of sincerity. The fire in her eyes, and her words… even something like him without emotions was moved.

 

Interesting… is this fate? Or has time finally pitied these mortals…

 

“You are brave woman, and smart too.”

“I’m actually panicking right now.” she replied sarcastically. The time god chuckled, his laughter sounding so heartfelt even to him. Maybe he was to do the same mistake again to correct the past. So that he could finally severe his ties with Earth, and let fate do its job.

 

“You are scarier that your husband.” he sighed before continuing. He gave her the cracked hourglass. “You have to help him Ji hyo…” being an immortal had been boring. He could actually do something stupid and reckless right there and get a very absurd award -- the feeling humans have when they do something good. He wonders now, if the price for a moment of that was worth it, or if he would really feel peace at last.

 

“Is there any problem Jade?”

 

Now she’s even worried for me… so this is how it feels, “Do you want him to stay Ji hyo?”

 

Ji hyo shook her head, surprising Jade again. She only smiled, “oppa, will always do the right thing. He will always be the responsible one even if it hurts him. He will always do what he thinks is right.

“Even if time had played us that never changed, so I know. He will choose to leave.”

“You are from the future, he is from the present… everything could change if he goes back.” She nodded, analyzing his words carefully. Jade wondered if she’d change her mind. She’s a mortal after all and they are very fickle creatures.

 

Again, she shook her head no, “I trust us. Whatever happens, we’ll meet again.” Jade didn’t need to hear anymore. He could let them live in the hourglass’ realm, but he knew the two would never be happy. They will always seek out the truth.

 

“It’s both of you now. It’s no more just him or just you. Once your choices meet… the answers will be revealed and the equation will finally be over.” He handed her back the hourglass with the cracks still visible and unfixed.

 

What was started long ago will end soon… this mortals’ twisted fates… they will soon be restored.

 

“But how Jade?”

 “The answers will come to both of you when your choices had aligned. Take it.” She did and the sand inside unfroze, a flurry of activities swirled inside. Jade flicked his fingers and Ji hyo felt herself falling into eternal darkness.

 

----------End of Flashback----------

 

Jong kook and Ji hyo found themselves standing in front of each other. They were still in the garden of their house, holding each other’s hand. Everything finally made sense. The glitch, the other memories and the other twists were part of the broken equation to test them both.

 

They stared at each other, unable to say anything. Jong kook didn’t know what to tell her. Now that he could finally be fully honest with her, he couldn’t speak. He doesn’t even know where to start.

 

“I know. Everything.” She whispered, her voice hinting a tone of sadness, but there was also understanding there. The words they have left couldn’t be just wasted for things that don’t matter anymore. He nodded, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

 

“I’d rather hear the truth… among the lies.”

 

“I love you, Cheon Seung Im. That will always be true.”

 

Ji hyo tried to speak but her voice failed her. A dull ache in prevented her from even whispering a silent yes. The tears threatened to fall and she held them back. This was their choice. They both chose it and they can’t turn back anymore.

 

“I have to go… but it’s only temporary Ji hyo-yah.” A dainty finger caressed his cheeks, tracing lines on his face. Ji hyo wiped away his tears. He didn’t even realize that he was openly crying, not that it still mattered. He gently pulled her to him and her hair, closing his eyes and engraving all of her to his senses and memory. “We’ll meet again Ji hyo.”

 

His warm voice, the confidence and his belief in them made her heart twinge in pain. How could she had forgotten, during that years of misery, that he had always been her protective oppa. The one who's always looking out for her. Her oppa who would silently step in front of her everytime to shield her. The one who nags a lot but would always give in to her whims. The one who kept on leaving stuff in her dressing room while pretending it was someone else who did. He was the gentle commander, her ally and best friend. Yet she refused to believe that he could actually also love her. She had always told herself, that he didn’t her when he actually does.

 

When she felt so alone, she failed to see that they both shut themselves to each other. He, the other Jong kook, couldn’t reach out to her because she didn’t let him feel that he could. She made herself believe that she was the good one but she was also doing the same thing that he did to her. Maybe they will do it again, repeat the mistakes and all, but now she was more confident that everything would be all right. It might take time, but it would be worth it.

 

“Ji hyo-yah…” his words brought her back from her musings. How much she’ll miss that gentle voice. She buried her face to his chest, afraid to think of what will happen tomorrow. She didn’t even dare mention the other Jong kook. She let out a sob, and another followed it until she was pouring out her grief. She wanted to stop. She knows everything and understands why he has to go, but the pain in her heart wouldn’t subside. Jong kook only hushed her, not also letting go.

 

“Oppa, we’ll both meet sooner than you think.”

“I-I can’t wait.” He nodded to her. Should he say goodbye? Or should they just silently walk away? Words nor time doesn’t matter anymore because he believes in the two of them. He trusts that no matter when or where even if the memories fail them, their feelings will bring them closer again. Even if they meet in the past, even if it’s in the present or in another world, they’ll find each other and nothing else would matter.

 

“I love you. I love you Song Ji hyo.” He caressed her tummy, and they both laughed weakly as tears continue to flow. “L-little one, appa also loves you, so much. So, so much. I love you and your older sister, Hyo Jong-ah.” He fished out something in his pocket and held it in front of her.

 

“I wish we had more time to do this… but this place would be fine.” He took her hand and gently kissed it, he was smiling despite all the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing. Ji hyo could only stare at the glittering metal. “Ji hyo-yah, I bind myself to you, even if you are not in my past, you will be in my future, in my present… I will always come back to you no matter what.”

 

She nodded, stammering a string of yeses. Jong kook slowly inserted the ring in her finger as she spoke, “I will always wait for you, and no matter if you are the past or the future or the present, I will always accept you.”

 

I love you… Jong kook-ah

 

I love you… nae sarang

 

And in a flash, Ji hyo was filled with numbness. He was gone.

 

--------------------

 

The end…

 

 No not yet… but I want to know your opinions, guys. I have prepared the ending of course but, I wanted to know if you want Jong kook to end up with future Jihyo (the place and time period would be up to me though) or he'll just go back and meet her in the present?

 

thank you all for reading especially to those people who kept on cheering me on, you guys are too awesome. I want to special mention but you guys know who you are, commenters, upvoters, subscribers and silent readers... thank you for bearing up with me all this time. Your support are greatly appreciated :)

Happy halloween! XD